Proton transfer reactions and dynamics of sulfonic acid group in Nafion®

Proton transfer reactions and dynamics of the hydrophilic group (-SO(3)H) in Nafion? were studied at low hydration levels using the complexes formed from CF(3)SO(3)H, H(3)O(+) and nH(2)O, 1 ≤n≤ 3, as model systems. The equilibrium structures obtained from DFT calculations suggested at least two structural diffusion pathways at the -SO(3)H group namely, the "pass-through" and "pass-by" mechanisms. The former involves the protonation and deprotonation at the -SO(3)H group, whereas the latter the proton transfer in the adjacent Zundel complex. Analyses of the asymmetric O-H stretching frequencies (ν(OH)) of the hydrogen bond (H-bond) protons showed the threshold frequencies (ν(OH*)) of proton transfer in the range of 1700 to 2200 cm(-1). Born-Oppenheimer Molecular Dynamics (BOMD) simulations at 350 K anticipated slightly lower threshold frequencies (ν(A)(OH*,MD)), with two characteristic asymmetric O-H stretching frequencies being the spectral signatures of proton transfer in the H-bond complexes. The lower frequency (ν(A)(OH,MD))) is associated with the oscillatory shuttling motion and the higher frequency (ν(B)(OH,MD))) the structural diffusion motion. Comparison of the present results with BOMD simulations on protonated water clusters indicated that the -SO(3)H group facilitates proton transfer by reducing the vibrational energy for the interconversion between the two dynamic states (Δν), resulting in a higher population of the H-bonds with the structural diffusion motion. One could therefore conclude that the -SO(3)H groups in Nafion? act as active binding sites which provide appropriate structural, energetic and dynamic conditions for effective structural diffusion processes in a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). The present results suggested for the first time a possibility to discuss the tendency of proton transfer in H-bond using Δν(BA)(OH,MD)) and provided theoretical bases and guidelines for the investigations of proton transfer reactions in theory and experiment.     

Dynamics and mechanism of structural diffusion in linear hydrogen bond

Dynamics and mechanism of proton transfer in a protonated hydrogen bond (H-bond) chain were studied, using the CH(3)OH(2)(+)(CH(3)OH)(n) complexes, n = 1-4, as model systems. The present investigations used B3LYP/TZVP calculations and Born-Oppenheimer MD (BOMD) simulations at 350 K to obtain characteristic H-bond structures, energetic and IR spectra of the transferring protons in the gas phase and continuum liquid. The static and dynamic results were compared with the H(3)O(+)(H(2)O)(n) and CH(3)OH(2)(+)(H(2)O)(n) complexes, n = 1-4. It was found that the H-bond chains with n = 1 and 3 represent the most active intermediate states and the CH(3)OH(2)(+)(CH(3)OH)(n) complexes possess the lowest threshold frequency of proton transfer. The IR spectra obtained from BOMD simulations revealed that the thermal energy fluctuation and dynamics help promote proton transfer in the shared-proton structure with n = 3 by lowering the vibrational energy for the interconversion between the oscillatory shuttling and structural diffusion motions, leading to a higher population of the structural diffusion motion than in the shared-proton structure with n = 1. Additional explanation on the previously proposed mechanisms was introduced, with the emphases on the energetic of the transferring proton, the fluctuation of the number of the CH(3)OH molecules in the H-bond chain, and the quasi-dynamic equilibriums between the shared-proton structure (n = 3) and the close-contact structures (n ≥ 4). The latter prohibits proton transfer reaction in the H-bond chain from being concerted, since the rate of the structural diffusion depends upon the lifetime of the shared-proton intermediate state.     

Unimolecular reactions of dihydrated alkaline earth metal dications M2+(H2O)2, M = Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, and Ba: salt-bridge mechanism in the proton-transfer reaction M2+(H2O)2 --> MOH+ + H3O

The unimolecular reactivity of M(2+)(H(2)O)(2), M = Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, and Ba, is investigated by density functional theory. Dissociation of the complex occurs either by proton transfer to form singly charged metal hydroxide, MOH(+), and protonated water, H(3)O(+), or by loss of water to form M(2+)(H(2)O) and H(2)O. Charge transfer from water to the metal forming H(2)O(+) and M(+)(H(2)O) is not favorable for any of the metal complexes. The relative energetics of these processes are dominated by the metal dication size. Formation of MOH(+) proceeds first by one water ligand moving to the second solvation shell followed by proton transfer to this second-shell water molecule and subsequent Coulomb explosion. These hydroxide formation reactions are exothermic with activation energies that are comparable to the water binding energy for the larger metals. This results in a competition between proton transfer and loss of a water molecule. The arrangement with one water ligand in the second solvation shell is a local minimum on the potential energy surface for all metals except Be. The two transition states separating this intermediate from the reactant and the products are identified. The second transition state determines the height of the activation barrier and corresponds to a M(2+)-OH(-)-H(3)O(+) "salt-bridge" structure. The computed B3LYP energy of this structure can be quantitatively reproduced by a simple ionic model in which Lewis charges are localized on individual atoms. This salt-bridge arrangement lowers the activation energy of the proton-transfer reaction by providing a loophole on the potential energy surface for the escape of H(3)O(+). Similar salt-bridge mechanisms may be involved in a number of proton-transfer reactions in small solvated metal ion complexes, as well as in other ionic reactions.     

Proton dissociation and transfer in hydrated phosphoric acid clusters

The dynamics and mechanisms of proton dissociation and transfer in hydrated phosphoric acid (H₃PO₄) clusters under excess proton conditions were studied based on the concept of presolvation using the H₃PO₄–H₃O⁺–nH₂O complexes (n = 1–3) as the model systems and ab initio calculations and Born–Oppenheimer molecular dynamics (BOMD) simulations at the RIMP2/TZVP level as model calculations. The static results showed that the smallest, most stable intermediate complex for proton dissociation (n = 1) is formed in a low local‐dielectric constant environment (e.g., ε = 1), whereas proton transfer from the first to the second hydration shell is driven by fluctuations in the number of water molecules in a high local‐dielectric constant environment (e.g., ε = 78) through the Zundel complex in a linear H‐bond chain (n = 3). The two‐dimensional potential energy surfaces (2D‐PES) of the intermediate complex (n = 1) suggested three characteristic vibrational and ¹H NMR frequencies associated with a proton moving on the oscillatory shuttling and structural diffusion paths, which can be used to monitor the dynamics of proton dissociation in the H‐bond clusters. The BOMD simulations over the temperature range of 298–430 K validated the proposed proton dissociation and transfer mechanisms by showing that good agreement between the theoretical and experimental data can be achieved with the proposed rate‐determining processes. The theoretical results suggest the roles played by the polar solvent and iterate that insights into the dynamics and mechanisms of proton transfer in the protonated H‐bond clusters can be obtained from intermediate complexes provided that an appropriate presolvation model is selected and that all of the important rate‐determining processes are included in the model calculations. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Reaction systems related to dissimilatory nitrate reductase: nitrate reduction mediated by bis(dithiolene)tungsten complexes

Kinetics of the oxygen atom transfer reactions [M(IV)(QC6H2-2,4,6-Pr(i)3)(S2C2Me2)2]1- + XO --> [M(VI)O(QC6H2-2,4,6-Pr(i)3)(S2C2Me2)2]1- + X in acetonitrile with substrates XO = NO3- and (CH2)4SO have been determined. The reactants are bis(dithiolene) complexes with M = Mo, W and sterically encumbered axial ligands with Q = O, S to stabilize mononuclear square pyramidal structures. The complex [MoIV(SC6H2-2,4,6-Pr(i)3)(S2C2Me2)2]1- is an analogue of the active site of dissimilatory nitrate reductase which in the reduced state contains a molybdenum atom bound by two pyranopterindithiolene ligands and a cysteinate residue. Nitrate reduction was studied with tungsten complexes because of unfavorable stability properties of the molybdenum complexes. Product nitrite was detected by a colorimetric method. All reactions with both substrates are second-order with associative transition states (deltaS approximately -20 eu). Variation of atoms M and Q, together with data from prior work, allows certain kinetics comparisons to be made. Among them, k2W/k2Mo = 25 for (CH2)4SO reduction (Q = S), an expression of the kinetic metal effect. Further, k2S/k2O = 28 and approximately 10(4) for nitrate and (CH2)4SO reduction, respectively, effects attributed to relatively more steric congestion in achieving the transition state with hindered phenolate vs thiolate ligands. The effect is more pronounced with the larger substrate. These results demonstrate the feasibility of tungsten-mediated nitrate reduction by direct atom transfer using molecules with both axial thiolate and phenolate ligands. Complexes of the type [M(IV)(OR)(S2C2Me2)2] are capable of reducing biological N-oxide, S-oxide, and nitrate substrates and thus constitute functional analogue reaction systems of enzymic transformations.     

Ab initio study of the atmospheric oxidation of CS2.

The reactions of OH with CS2, OCS, and 3SO and of 3O2 with CS2, SCSOH, and HOSO have been studied by optimizing minima and transition states with B3LYP/6-31+G(d) and carrying out higher-level ab initio calculations on fixed geometries. The combined calculations provide valuable insight into the mechanism for the atmospheric oxidation of CS2. The initial step is the formation of the SCSOH complex (1) which readily adds molecular oxygen to form the SC(OO)SOH complex (8). A key step is the oxygen atom transfer to the sulfur bearing the hydroxyl group which leads directly to OCS plus HOSO. The HOSO + 3O2 reaction has a near zero calculated activation barrier so generation of O2H + SO2 should proceed readily in the atmosphere.     

Temperature dependent thermodynamic model of the system H(+)-NH₄(+)-Na(+)-SO₄²⁻-NO₃⁻-Cl⁻-H₂O

A thermodynamic model of the system H(+)-NH?(+)-Na(+)-SO?2?-NO??-Cl?-H?O is parametrized and used to represent activity coefficients, equilibrium partial pressures of H?O, HNO?, HCl, H?SO?, and NH?, and saturation with respect to 26 solid phases (NaCl(s), NaCl·2H?O(s), Na?SO?(s), Na?SO?·10H?O(s), NaNO?·Na?SO?·H?O(s), Na?H(SO?)?(s), NaHSO?(s), NaHSO?·H?O(s), NaNH?SO?·2H?O(s), NaNO?(s), NH?Cl(s), NH?NO?(s), (NH?)?SO?(s), (NH?)?H(SO?)?(s), NH?HSO?(s), (NH?)?SO?·2NH?NO?(s), (NH?)?SO?·3NH?NO?(s), H?SO?·H?O(s), H?SO?·2H?O(s), H?SO?·3H?O(s), H?SO?·4H?O(s), H?SO?·6.5H?O(s), HNO?·H?O(s), HNO?·2H?O(s), HNO?·3H?O(s), and HCl·3H?O(s)). The enthalpy of formation of the complex salts NaNH?SO?·2H?O(s) and Na?SO?·NaNO?·H?O(s) is calculated. The model is valid for temperatures < or approximately 263.15 up to 330 K and concentrations from infinite dilution to saturation with respect to the solid phases. For H?SO?-H?O solutions the degree of dissociation of the HSO?? ion is represented near the experimental uncertainty over wide temperature and concentration ranges. The parametrization of the model for the subsystems H(+)-NH?(+)-NO??-SO?2?-H?O and H(+)-NO??-SO?2?-Cl?-H?O relies on previous studies (Clegg, S. L. et al. J. Phys. Chem. A 1998, 102, 2137-2154; Carslaw, K. S. et al. J. Phys. Chem. 1995, 99, 11557-11574), which are only partly adjusted to new data. For these systems the model is applicable to temperatures below 200 K, dependent upon liquid-phase composition, and for the former system also to supersaturated solutions. Values for the model parameters are determined from literature data for the vapor pressure, osmotic coefficient, emf, degree of dissociation of HSO??, and the dissociation constant of NH? as well as measurements of calorimetric properties of aqueous solutions like enthalpy of dilution, enthalpy of solution, enthalpy of mixing, and heat capacity. The high accuracy of the model is demonstrated by comparisons with experimentally determined mean activity coefficients of HCl in HCl-Na?SO?-H?O solutions, solubility measurements for the quaternary systems H(+)-Na(+)-Cl?-SO?2?-H?O, Na(+)-NH?(+)-Cl?-SO?2?-H?O, and Na(+)-NH?(+)-NO??-SO?2?-H?O as well as vapor pressure measurements of HNO?, HCl, H?SO?, and NH?.     

Why are proton transfers at carbon slow? Self-exchange reactions

When the quantum character of proton transfer is taken into account, the intrinsic slowness of self-exchange proton transfer at carbon appears as a result of its nonadiabatic character as opposed to the adiabatic character of proton transfer at oxygen and nitrogen. This difference is caused by the lesser polarity of C-H bonds as compared to that of O-H and N-H bonds. Besides solvent and heavy-atom intramolecular reorganizations, the kinetics of the reaction are consequently governed at the level of a pre-exponential term by proton tunneling through the barrier. These contrasting behaviors are illustrated by an analysis of the CH(3)H + (-)CH(3), H(2)O + OH(-), and (+)NH(4) + NH(3) self-exchange reactions. The effect of electron-withdrawing substituents and the case of cation radicals are discussed within the same framework taking the O(2)NCH(2)H + CH(2)=NO(2)(-) and (+.)H(2)NCH(2)H + (.)CH(2)NH(2) as examples. Illustrated by the CH(2)=CH-CH(2)H + (-)CH(2)-CH=CH(2) couple, it is shown that the "imbalanced character of the transition state" is related to heavy-atom intramolecular reorganization. Combination of these various effects is finally analyzed, taking the O(2)N-CH(2)=CH-CH(2)H + CH(2)=CH-CH=NO(2)(-) and (+.)H(2)N-CH(2)=CH-CH(2)H + (.)CH(2)-CH=CH(2)-NH(2) couples as examples.     

Light-induced metastable linkage isomers of ruthenium sulfur dioxide complexes

The irradiation of ruthenium-sulfur dioxide complexes of general formula trans-[Ru(II)(NH(3))(4)(SO(2))X]Y with laser light at low temperature results in linkage isomerization of SO(2), starting with eta(1)-planar S-bound to eta(2)-side S,O-bound SO(2). The solid-state photoreaction proceeds with retention of sample crystallinity. Following work on trans-[Ru(NH(3))(4)Cl(eta(1)-SO(2))]Cl and trans-[Ru(NH(3))(4)(H(2)O)(eta(1)-SO2)](C(6)H(5)SO(3))(2) (Kovalevsky, A. Y.; Bagley, K. A.; Coppens, P. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2002, 124, 9241-9248), we describe photocrystallographic, IR, DSC, and theoretical studies of trans-[Ru(II)(NH(3))(4)(SO(2))X]Y complexes with (X = Cl(-), H(2)O, or CF(3)COO(-) (TFA(-))) and a number of different counterions (Y = Cl(-), C(6)H(5)SO(3)(-), Tos(-), or TFA(-)). Low temperature IR experiments indicate the frequency of the asymmetric and symmetric stretching vibrations of the Ru-coordinated SO(2) to be downshifted by about 100 and 165 cm(-1), respectively. Variation of the trans-to-SO(2) ligand and the counterion increases the MS2 decay temperature from 230 K (trans-[Ru(II)(NH(3))(4)(SO(2))Cl]Cl) to 276 K (trans-[Ru(II)(NH(3))(4)(SO(2))(H(2)O)](Tos)(2)). The stability of the MS2 state correlates with increasing sigma-donating ability of the trans ligand and the size of the counterion. Quantum chemical DFT calculations indicate the existence of a third eta(1)-O-bound (MS1) isomer, the two metastable states being 0.1-0.6 eV above the energy of the ground-state complex.     

Theoretical study of CH…O hydrogen bond in proton transfer reaction of glycine

Density functional theory (DFT) calculations are used to study the strength of the CH…O H‐bond in the proton transfer reaction of glycine. Comparison has been made between four proton transfer reactions (ZW1, ZW2, ZW3, SCRFZW) in glycine. The structural parameters of the zwitterionic, transition, and neutral states of glycine are strongly perturbed when the proton transfer takes place. It has been found that the interaction of water molecule at the side chain of glycine is high in the transition state, whereas it is low in the zwitterionic and neutral states. This strongest multiple hydrogen bond interaction in the transition state reduces the barrier for the proton transfer reaction. The natural bond orbital analysis have also been carried out for the ZW2 reaction path, it has been concluded that the amount of charge transfer between the neighboring atoms will decide the strength of H‐bond. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2006     

Identity hydride-ion transfer from C-H donors to C acceptor sites. Enthalpies of hydride addition and enthalpies of activation. Comparison with C...H...C proton transfer. An ab initio study

Enthalpies of addition of hydride ion to eleven carbonyl acceptors (X-CHO), two conjugate addition sites (X-CH=CH2; X = CHO, NO2), eight carbenium ion acceptors, fulvene, borane, and SiH3(+) were calculated at the MP2/6-311+G level. Correlation between calculated and experimental enthalpies of addition of hydride ion is excellent. Transition states (ts) for the identity hydride transfers between the acceptors and their corresponding hydride adducts (hydride donors) were also calculated. The carbonyl and fulvene reactions have transition states with one imaginary frequency: the hydrogen transfer coordinate. The carbenium ions, borane, and SiH3(+) gave not transition states but stable compounds upon addition of the hydride donor. Computational differences between these hydride transfers and previously reported proton transfers include shorter partial C...H bonds and a tendency toward bent C...H...C angles for the hydride transfer ts and addition compound structures, particularly when a bent geometry improves interactions elsewhere in the structure. These and other differences are explained by modeling the hydride transfer ts and addition compounds as two-electron, three-center systems involving the transfer termini and the shared hydrogen but the proton transfer ts structures as four-electron, three-center systems. Charge and geometry measures suggest transition states in which these features change synchronously, again in contrast to many proton transfer reactions. For the X-CHO set, polar effects dominate enthalpies of hydride addition, with resonance effects also important for resonance donors; these preferentially stabilize the acceptor, reducing its hydride ion affinity. Activation enthalpies are dominated by resonance stabilization of the acceptors, greatly attenuated in the transition states.     

Raman spectroscopic study of tungsten(VI) oxosulfato complexes in WO3-K2S2O7-K2SO4 molten mixtures: stoichiometry, vibrational properties, and molecular structure

The dissolution reaction of WO3 in pure molten K2S2O7 and in molten K2S2O7-K2SO4 mixtures is studied under static equilibrium conditions in the XWO3(0) = 0-0.33 mol fraction range at temperatures up to 860 °C. High temperature Raman spectroscopy shows that the dissolution leads to formation of W(VI) oxosulfato complexes, and the spectral features are adequate for inferring the structural and vibrational properties of the complexes formed. The band characteristics observed in the W=O stretching region (band wavenumbers, intensities, and polarization characteristics) are consistent with a dioxo W(=O)2 configuration as a core unit within the oxosulfato complexes formed. A quantitative exploitation of the relative Raman intensities in the binary WO3-K2S2O7 system allows the determination of the stoichiometric coefficient, n, of the complex formation reaction WO3 + nS2O7(2-) --> C(2n-). It is found that n = 1; therefore, the reaction WO3 + S2O7(2-) > WO2(SO4)2(2-) with six-fold W coordination is proposed as fully consistent with the observed Raman features. The effects of the incremental dissolution and presence of K2SO4 in WO3-K2S2O7 melts point to a WO3 · K2S2O7 · K2SO4 stoichiometry and a corresponding complex formation reaction in the ternary molten WO3-K2S2O7-K2SO4 system according to WO3 + S2O7(2-) + SO4(2-) --> WO2(SO4)3(4-). The coordination sphere of W in WO2(SO4)2(2-) (binary system) is completed with two oxide ligands and two chelating sulfate groups. A dimeric [{WO2(SO4)2}2(μ-SO4)2](8-) configuration is proposed for the W oxosulfato complex in the ternary system, generated from inversion symmetry of aWO2(SO4)3(4-) moiety resulting in two bridging sulfates. The most characteristic Raman bands for the W(VI) oxosulfato complexes pertain to W(=O)2 stretching modes (i) at 972 (polarized) and 937 (depolarized) cm(-1) for the ν(s) and ν(as) W(=O)2 modes of WO2(SO4)2(2-), and (ii) at 933 (polarized) and 909 (depolarized) cm(-1) for the respective modes of [{WO2(SO4)2}2(μ-SO4)2](8-).     

Theoretical Studies of Proton Transfer Reactions—Energy Barriers and the Marcus Equation

The reactants, ion-dipole complexes, transition states, and products for the proton transfer reactions HBCOH⁺ + OCXH → HBCO + ⁺HOCXH optimized at the SCF/4–31G* level of theory for B, X = F, Cl, H, CH₃, CH₂Cl, CHCl₂ and CCl₃ are studied. The intrinsic barrier ΔE*_BX correlates with the degree of the O-O bond contraction in the transition structure. Both intrinsic and overall barriers can be predicted with the aid of Marcus theory. Progressive degrees of chlorination of the alkyl group in B produce decreases in the barrier to proton transfer from HBCOH⁺ to OCXH and increases in the reverse transfer barriers. These changes can be quantitatively reproduced by the Marcus equation for all systems.     

Reaction dynamics simulations of the identity S(N)2 reaction H(2)O + HOOH(2)(+)--> H(2)OOH(+)+ H(2)O. Requirements for reaction and competition with proton transfer

Despite the fact that the transition structure of the gas phase S(N)2 reaction H(2)O + HOOH(2)(+)--> HOOH(2)(+)+ H(2)O is well below the reactants in potential energy, the reaction has not yet been observed by experiment. Variational transition state RRKM theory reveals a strong preference for the competing proton transfer reaction H(2)O + HOOH(2)(+)--> H(3)O(+)+ HOOH due to entropy factors. Born-Oppenheimer reaction dynamics simulations confirm these results. However, by increasing the collision energy to around 7.5 eV the probability for nucleophilic substitution increases relative to proton transfer. These observations are explained by the presence of the key common intermediate HOO(H)[dot dot dot]H-OH(2)(+) which leads to effective proton transfer, but can be avoided with increasing collision energy. However, the S(N)2 probability remains below 0.2 since successful passage through the TS requires optimum initial orientation of the reactants, excitation of the relative translational motion and good phase correlation between the O-O vibration and the motion of the incoming water.     

Reaction mechanism of the reverse water-gas shift reaction using first-row middle transition metal catalysts L'M (M = Fe, Mn, Co): a computational study

The mechanism of the reverse water-gas shift reaction (CO(2) + H(2) → CO + H(2)O) was investigated using the 3d transition metal complexes L'M (M = Fe, Mn, and Co, L' = parent β-diketiminate). The thermodynamics and reaction barriers of the elementary reaction pathways were studied with the B3LYP density functional and two different basis sets: 6-311+G(d) and aug-cc-pVTZ. Plausible reactants, intermediates, transition states, and products were modeled, with different conformers and multiplicities for each identified. Different reaction pathways and side reactions were also considered. Reaction Gibbs free energies and activation energies for all steps were determined for each transition metal. Calculations indicate that the most desirable mechanism involves mostly monometallic complexes. Among the three catalysts modeled, the Mn complex shows the most favorable catalytic properties. Considering the individual reaction barriers, the Fe complex shows the lowest barrier for activation of CO(2).     

Ionization dynamics of a water dimer: specific reaction selectivity

Ionization dynamics of a water dimer have been investigated by means of a direct ab initio molecular dynamics (MD) method. Two electronic state potential energy surfaces of (H(2)O)(2)(+) (ground and first excited states, (2)A' and (2)A') were examined as cationic states of (H(2)O)(2)(+). Three intermediate complexes were found as product channels. One is a proton transfer channel where a proton of H(2)O(+) is transferred into the H(2)O and then a complex composed of H(3)O(+)(OH) was formed. The second is a face-to-face complex channel denoted by (H(2)O-OH(2))(+) where the oxygen-oxygen atoms directly bind each other. Both water molecules are equivalent to each other. The third one is a dynamical complex where H(2)O(+) and H(2)O interact weakly and vibrate largely with a large intermolecular amplitude motion. The dynamics calculations showed that in the ionization to the (2)A' state, a proton transfer complex H(3)O(+)(OH) is only formed as a long-lived complex. On the other hand, in the ionization to the (2)A' state, two complexes, the face-to-face and dynamical complexes, were found as product channels. The proton of H(2)O(+) was transferred to H(2)O within 25-50 fs at the (2)A' state, meaning that the proton transfer on the ground state is a very fast process. On the other hand, the decay process on the first excited state is a slow process due to the molecular rotation. The mechanism of the ionization dynamics of (H(2)O)(2) was discussed on the basis of theoretical results.     

Ion chemistry of NOO+

The kinetics for the reactions of NOO+ ions with neutral molecules having ionization potentials (IPs) from 9.27 to 15.58 eV was measured in a selected ion flow tube at 298 K. The NOO+ ions are produced from the reaction of N3+ + O2 and have been reacted with the following: NO, C6F6, CS2, CF3I, C3F6, OCS, C2H6, Xe, SO2, O3, N2O, CO2, Kr, CO, D2, and N2. Numerous types of reactions were observed with the various neutral reagents, including production of NO+ (which may involve loss of an O from the ion or addition of O to the neutral reactant, although the two channels could not be distinguished here), charge transfer, isomerization of NOO+ to ONO+, and hydride abstraction. High level theoretical calculations of the structures and energetics of the various isomers, electronic states, and transition states of NOO and NOO+ were performed to better understand the observed reactivity. All neutral species with an IP< or =11.18 eV were observed to react with NOO+ in part by charge transfer. Detailed calculations showed that the recommended adiabatic and vertical IPs of NOO are 10.4 and 11.7 eV, respectively, at the MRCISDQ/AVQZ level of theory. The observed experimental limit for charge transfer of 11.18 eV agreed well with the energetics of the final products obtained from theory if dissociation of the neutral metastable product occurred, i.e., the products were X+ +[O(3P) + NO(2Pi)], where [O(3P)+NO(2Pi)] formed via dissociation of metastable NOO. Charge exchange with neutral reagent X would, therefore, be exothermic if IP(X)<[IPad(NOO)-DeltaE(O+NO)-NOO]= approximately 11.1 eV, where IPad(NOO) is the adiabatic IP. The potential energy surface for the reaction of NOO+ with C2H6 was also calculated, indicating that two pathways for formation of HNO2 + C2H5 (+) exist.     

Apparent stoichiometry of water in proton hydration and proton dehydration reactions in CH3CN/H2O solutions

Gradual solvation of protons by water is observed in liquids by mixing strong mineral acids with various amounts of water in acetonitrile solutions, a process which promotes rapid dissociation of the acids in these solutions. The stoichiometry of the reaction XH(+) + n(H(2)O) = X + (H(2)O)(n)H(+) was studied for strong mineral acids (negatively charged X, X = ClO(4)ˉ, Clˉ, Brˉ, Iˉ, CF(3)SO(3)ˉ) and for strong cationic acids (uncharged X, X = R*NH(2), H(2)O). We have found by direct quantitative analysis preference of n = 2 over n = 1 for both groups of proton transfer reactions at relatively low water concentrations in acetonitrile. At high water concentrations, we have found that larger water solvates must also be involved in the solvation of the proton while the spectral features already observed for n = 2, H(+)(H(2)O)(2), remain almost unchanged at large n values up to at least 10 M of water.     

Electronic structure studies on deprotonation of dithiophosphinic acids in water clusters

We report herein a computational study of proton transfer reactions between dithiophosphinic acids (HAs) and water clusters using B3LYP and MP2 methods. The ground-state and transition-state structures of HA-(H(2)O)(n) (n = 1, 2, 3) cluster complexes have been calculated. The influence of water molecules on energy barrier heights of proton transfer reactions has been examined in the gas phase and solution for bis[o-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]- and bis(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl)dithiophosphinic acids (HA1 and HA2, respectively). Gas-phase calculations indicate that electron-withdrawing substituents and trifluoromethyl groups in the ortho position favor deprotonation of HA1 when three water molecules are included in the cluster. This suggests that at least three water molecules are necessary to solvate the abstracted proton in the presence of the anion. In the case of HA2, the electron-donating groups favor the reverse proton transfer reaction, namely, protonation of dithiophosphinate anion. Bulk solvent effects have been modeled for aqueous and organic media with the CPCM model. The calculated results show that polar solvents can lower the activation energy for less energetically stable transition states that have more localized charges.